The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-30
Republican Conventions.


To the Editor of the indianapolis Journai
The Democratic party, in its conventional
forms. is measurably true to principle. In its
national conventions, States the units. In
its State and district conventions counties vote
In county conventions. townships ballot. All
this 10 consistent with the Bourbon idea that
partnership Of counties is State. and part
nership OF States constitutes this confederacy.
The principal doctrine of the Republican party
is that ours is supreme nation of people; that
a State is a subordinate aggregation of its peo-
pie, and that county is q local government for
its own citizens OF the people. for the people,
and by the people, is the Republican rule Of
unity for town, city, township county, State
and nation. The distinction of the parties is
we'll marked in theory, but in conventional
forms the Republican party apes and mimics
the Democratic party. This is source of
weakness, and tends to dsintegration Why
not promote new and better rules of convention
al conduct to tally with the principles of
party? Our organization Is national,
the Democratic party Is confederate
institution. In Republican national conven-
ton States should be ignored and the whole Deo-
pie of the Nation by their free and equal dele
gates consult for the common good or the party.
In State convention county distictiors should
be suppressed. and each delegate should stand
equal representative pari materia OF the
people of the State In county conventions each
CeIeRate
manner the same rule should apply to a city
town township. Thus each convention
could show a late expression of majority of
the members OF the party. AS the Republican
party is right in principle all good citizens are,
/ ought TO be, members OF our organization.
The party doors or ought to be ajar to re-
measure of representation be based exactly
any former party vote in any State district.
Thus in national conventions delegates can be
fairly chosen from congressional districts. The
exact equality of constituency is not vital the
manner of choice and the conduct Of delegates
after they are chosen.
FORMULA OF a REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CON-
vENTION.
The convention should consist Of three hun.
dred and twenty-five Republicans, a number
equal to the number of Congressman.
Each delegate should be Republican voter of
the congressional district from which he is
chosen and not fedora! office-hoider
One delegate should be selected from each
congressional district in the Nation in uniform
manner and at a uniform time, prior to the
tional convention two weeks.
At the same hour a delegate convention of one
hundred Republican voters of each congressional
district, chosen by ballot one week previously,
each at q separate mass convention, held the
same hour and in the same manner. shall
emble at a place designated in the call of the
national committee and then and there select
delegate to the national convention by major
ity ballot.
AT each of the O. 500 mass conceptions held
just three weeks prior to the national conven-
ton, let those in attendance, after selecting
delegate 10 the district convention. cast a writ
ten ballot for candidate for President and Vice
president. This ballot be counted and
ported at the district convention, the result
placed in the hands of the national delegate and
counted in the national convention. The frank
and file" OF the party can thus speak and their
voice be recorded. Should clear majority of all
the ballots cast at the 80, 500 mass conventions
be for any one eligible person as a candidate for
President or ice-president he will be fairly
mated by the popular vote. Each delegate
should be free to use his best judgment in case
no nomination is made on the direct vote. That
vote may inform his mind but should not bind
his conscience
The direct vote is first estima ted aud proba-
bly, nomination will thus be made. The
names of the 525 delegates can then be called in
alphabetical order and each cast ballot for
the candidate of his choice. This ballot will be
163 more votes. Thus candidates can be Sc
lected by fair majority of the delegate votes.
The party will then have ticket selected after
every true Republicans own heart. There
be no occasion to kick, bolt or scratch The
voice of the ''mugwump' will be hushed. The
80. 500 mass conventions. besides each voting for
candidates and selecting district delegates.
transact such other party business may be
proper. Each of the 325 conventions select
an alternate delegate. an elector and organize
the district for the campaign. Thus the whole
party put its fighting harness. II our
party has not vigor and independence enough to
leave off even the form of the secession dogmas
of the confederates in conventional conduct,
will grow weaker while we should grow stronger
have made no effort to do more than to point
can perform. A reform In our party ritual is
loudly called for by others than ''mugwumps."
Some genuine Repu blican may suggest something
better and truer to party doctrine. Let US not
act like Democrats and yet talk like Republicans.
RENSSELAER,. Nov. %. S. P. THOMPSON.